Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-05-28

thern Pacific in Dakota territory; the Nor
thern Pacific main line from Kalama to
Tenino; from Tenino to Tacoma; from
Wallula to Spokane Falls; from Spokane
Falls to Pend d'Oreille; from Pend
d'Oreiile to Montana; from Yakima to
AinsWorth; from AinsWorth to Swan
Creek; from Tacoma twenty-five to thirty
miles east; and it now appearing from said
records that no sufficient reasons for a
longer continuance of the enforcement
of the general orders of withdrawal, it is
now ruled and hereby entailed on the
several land grant railroad companies to
show cause on or before the 9th day of
June, 1887, why said several orders of
withdrawal from settlement of lands with
in the idemnity limits of their roads should
not be revoked and the lands therein m
braced restored to settlement. Returnable
before the secretary of the interior on the
9th day of June, 1887, at 10 o'clock a. m.
(signed) L.. Q. G. LAMAR, Sec'y.
Mr. Lamar has likewise given some
explanations which indicate the full
bearing Of the above order. Il am
fully convinced" he said, "that all
lands which have been withdrawn
from settlement at various times to
allow land grant corporations to Sc
leet indemnity lands from ought to
be reopened without delay for settle
ment, and every indemnity with
drawal will be revoked by me without
unnecessary delay Within the grant
ed limits land grant corporations
have certain rights to the exclusion
of the people, that is by action of
congress; within indemnity limits,
corporations have their rights of Sc
lection only in common with the
people"
While everyone should desire the
government to keep good faith
with the land grant railroads,
there is reason to rejoice at
the new departure in the policy
of the interior departments The new
decree will place the people on an
equality with the railroads as regards
a large portion of the public domain.
The right of selection will be widened,
and indemnity lands, with all the an
noyance and loss which the name i'm
plies, will disappear from the public
record. Most railroads will take care
to select their quota at once, and
when they have done so the national
account with them on that score will
be well nigh settled. Such railroads
as are tardy or tricky will be left to
take their chance, Uncommon with the
people at large, without any prefer
ences.
In regard to the Indian ~saveralty
law and leased cattle lands, Mr..
Lamar is likewise emphatic. "That
law" he says, SIS one of the most i'm
portant and beneficent congress has
ever passed. The true way to settle
the Indian question is to abolish the
Indian bureau. I mean, of course, to
pursue such a policy as will result in
that. Numerous leases Of Indian
lands by cattlemen / shall sweep
away. [ shall give notice presently
that cattle must be removed and the
leases annulled. I am not fond of
the use of troops, but when cattle
are to go they must go. While [ hope
the cattle lease men will obey in good
faith, I shall not hesitate to compel
prompt obedience. The law of con-
gress must be carried out"
All this indicates that Secretary
Lamar-or rather the administration
is resolved to respect the first mort
gage which the American people have
on the public domain. Not alone
must the homestead law be upheld,
but the right Of selection be carried
into public effect also. The railroads
will do well to heed the rumbling Of
the thunder. Il they are unable to
give a good account of their steward
ship, the people will take advantage
of all the rights which they still re
tain.